October 25 : Old Testament Truths. Please pray that the Father will prepare the way for an Old Testament Survey class that will be taught in L. There will be separate classes for Christians and Muslims. This is truly a “step of faith,” as no meeting of this sort has occurred before. Pray that the Father will send those to this meeting whom He has called out for His purposes. Pray that hearts will be open to hear the truths from God’s Holy Word. Pray that lives will be changed for His glory!

October 26 : Sood Need to Hear. The Sood are one of the “Unengaged Unreached People Groups” (UUPGs) found in the Indian state of Punjab. The Sood are mainly business people with a reputation for doing charitable works. There are nearly 144,000 Sood who need to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ. Pray for believers to take the Gospel to the Sood.

October 27 : Searching for House of Peace. An international worker is asking for prayer regarding any seeking that was done during Ramadan. Materials were given to those who were willing to take such things. The team did intentional seed sowing by giving out New Testaments in both Urdu and the Devangari script. Tracts and films that were distributed were received by these R Muslims. Please pray that the Lord will open the heart of a “person or a house of peace” (Luke 10:6) in these Muslim areas of R to receive the free gift of salvation.

October 28 : Persecution in Pakistan. Persecution continues against Punjabi Christians in Pakistan as violence and hatred against them causes death and destruction. In recent months, extremists leveled false accusations against the Christians, accusing them of desecrating the holy Quran. These allegations incited mobs of angry Muslims to act violently towards Christians. During these riots, more than 70 houses were burned. Seven Christians, including four women, were burned alive, and dozens were injured in the clashes that followed the initial riot. Government assessments following the riots reveal no element of truth to the allegations against the Christians of desecrating the Quran. Police now face charges of negligence for failing to protect Christians under threat. These villages have been under military control, and the situation remains tense and grim. Christians are living in fear. Please pray for Christians in Pakistan. Seek God’s healing and restoration for the broken: “O LORD, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will strengthen their heart, You will incline Your ear to vindicate the orphan and the oppressed, so that man, who is of the earth, will no longer cause terror” (Psalms 10:17-18, NASB).

October 29 : Khandelwal need Jesus. The Khandelwal, numbering approximately 6 million, have both Jain and Hindu followers among them, and their name is derived from their place of origin–Khandla in northern Rajasthan, India. Jains follow a path of non-violence and are strict vegetarians. They believe that through their own efforts, their soul can progress along a ladder to God. Jains are typically well-educated and very literate. They have influence in society at all levels and yet they do not know the God of the universe who can save them from their sins. Pray that the Father will open the eyes of the Khandelwal to understand that on their own, they will never reach Him.

October 30 : Wheel of Life. A common site in Bhutanese temples is a “mandala,” also known as the “Wheel of Life” or “Wheel of Becoming.” This large mural includes a complex, colorful circle held in the mouths and claws of a fearsome creature. The circle symbolizes the continuous cycle of birth, life and death from which one tries to free oneself through achieving enlightenment. Tibetan Buddhists believe humans have to work their way through the six worlds of unenlightened existence represented on the wheel in order to reach the ultimate state of existence called “nirvana,” or freedom from suffering. How it must grieve Almighty God to see so many Bhutanese trying to work their way to a life without suffering! Pray that Bhutanese Buddhists will realize that their efforts will only end in eternal suffering, separated from the presence of the loving Savior who gave His life so they could have eternal life. Pray that they will put their faith in Jesus, escape the need for a wheel of life, and discover the abundant life promised to the children of God.

October 31 : Island Disciples Needed. Please pray for Y, a local believer. Pray that the training he is receiving will help him to proclaim Christ boldly to his family and friends.

October 18 : Nurses Find New Life.  Sing praises to God for what He is doing in the medical community and in the lives of nurses and nursing students! Four young women in the medical community recently committed their lives to Christ and made this known publically. As you rejoice with the angels over their decision, also pray now for their discipleship. Please lift up the leader, asking for wisdom as she meets with these women and others whom they have invited to come and study the foundations of faith. Pray for the four women to drink in the milk they need now spiritually so they can grow in their new walk with Jesus, and ask for them to be bold in sharing with those whom they meet. Also pray for others who are coming to grow in the knowledge and understanding of life eternal and abundant through Christ.

October 19 : Who are the Punjabi? The Punjabi people are an Indo-Aryan ethnic group from South Asia. They originate from the Punjab region, which has been host to some of the oldest civilizations in the world, including one of the world’s first and oldest civilizations, the Indus Valley Civilization. In Pakistan, Punjabis comprise the largest ethnic group, at roughly 60 percent of the total population of the country and reside predominantly in the province (state) of Punjab and Azad Kashmir.   Punjabis have traditionally and historically been farmers and soldiers, which has transferred into modern times with their dominance in agriculture and military fields in Pakistan. In addition, Punjabis in Pakistan have been quite prominent politically, having had many elected Members of Parliament. Punjabi Culture is the culture of the Punjab region and includes cuisine, music, dancing, and elaborate wedding ceremonies. It is one of the oldest and richest cultures in world history, dating from ancient antiquity to the modern era. History and religion has played an important role in shaping Punjabi ethnic identity, and it is not uncommon for Punjabis generally to treat their religious identity as synonymous with their ethnic identity or at least a combined identity that differentiates them from others. Punjabis belong largely to three major religions–Islam (70 percent), Sikhism (15 percent) and Hinduism (10 percent)–and small numbers follow Christianity, Jainism and Buddhism. Muslim Punjabis are the largest group in the Punjab region and are largely concentrated in Pakistan, though a small Muslim Punjabi population exists in India. Please pray for the salvation of the Western Punjabis.

October 20 : Island Receives Good News.  Good News Now (GNN) Trainings teach pastors and lay leaders how to share the gospel and begin discipleship groups that will one day become house churches. Please pray for the international Christian leading these trainings as they are beginning to spread all over the island. Ask for him to remain in the Word, and pray for his family as he travels. Ask God to raise up local leaders and burn such a passion in them for the lost that they themselves will be able to lead these trainings. Intercede for those who hear the gospel as trainees go out and share. Petition for good follow up and for discipleship lessons to be started immediately with those who respond. Pray for a movement of God’s Spirit all across this beautiful island. May His name be made great!

October 21 : Turning Back to God. A hospital renewal is scheduled for January 2010. The launch of preparations occurred in August in a special chapel service at BBH. Month by month, a different theme is being developed as preparation for the event in January. The theme for October is the need for turning back to God. Please pray for revival in the hospital.

October 22 : Transformed Lives. While the swine flu has shut down many activities in the Deccan, God’s work does not stop. A Muslim leader in one Deccani city professed Christ last month, as did his wife and children. Their baptism occurred last month too! Another Deccani Muslim businessman whom God brought to faith five years ago continues to plant the seed of God’s Word in the ears of all his business clients as he manages a hotel. He is maturing in his faith by leaps and bounds! In still another Deccani city, several Muslim leaders have come to faith and are using their authority to share Christ with many in their community and with other Muslim leaders in nearby towns. In the midst of political and economic problems going on around the world, God’s work of transforming the hearts and lives of men, women and children is also going on–unstoppable. Please continue to pray that these believers will have courage, as many have relatives who refuse them and several have children and wives who refuse to relate with them anymore–all because of Christ. It’s a tough road they walk, but they refuse to turn their backs on Jesus Christ. They are willingly sharing in the sufferings of Christ (Philippians 1:29) in love, humility and devotion. Please pray for the salvation of their family and friends.

October 23 : Seeking the Truth. Pray that God will break through with the power of His gospel into the upper-class families of Kashmir. Pray that their openness to new ideas, their exposure to the world, and their knowledge and experience will translate into a sincere seeking of the Truth. Ask God to send visions, dreams and encounters with bold evangelists to these leading families so that the truth of the Bible and the identity of Jesus can be confirmed in their hearts

October 24 : Kolkata Cyclones.  This past May, a cyclone came through this area and caused much damage to people’s homes and crops. Pray as national believers minister to these people in the name of Jesus and seek to demonstrate His love. Pray that homes and hearts will be opened to the gospel through these efforts.

What’s My Response?

Before I came to South Asia, I wasn’t too concerned about beggars. In my Texas suburban life, I hardly encountered a beggar, and if I did, I awkwardly passed by, usually doing nothing to help. Every once in a while I would help at a soup kitchen or give my lunch to a homeless man just so I would not feel guilty, but I never let myself wrestle with living a life following Christ’s commands and truth about loving the poor. After being in South Asia for a few weeks, I realized my philosophy and actions were neither correct nor appropriate.

In South Asia, beggars are a common sight. Much of their plight comes from the remains of the caste system as well as Hindu beliefs. Even though the economy is slowly improving and offering more opportunities to the average citizen, many remain in a low caste due to the Hindu belief that it is bad karma to change your societal standing. It is a view that one must endure the life given to him or her. Because of this, many look down on beggars and refuse to help them.

When I arrived in one of the urban areas of South Asia, I was bombarded with the poverty and cultural differences. At every traffic light, beggar children reached into my auto and mumbled phrases I could not understand, attempting to gain a few rupees. I felt slightly compelled to do something but soon became overwhelmed and annoyed with the situation. I wondered how I could help the situation when there were so many beggars. Even if I gave to one, there were still millions of others who needed help. Since I didn’t know what to do, I just prayed. I prayed that God would help me know what to do and that He would in some way show the beggars that He loved them and had eternal life for them.

A couple of weeks later, I was now at my ministry site and spending some time grocery shopping. I walked by an old lady sitting on the steps into the store, weakly holding out her hands to those who passed by. The look in her eyes was dull and of one resigned to her position in life.

As I walked by, I gently smiled at the woman, said a prayer for her and then went into the store, focused on getting my groceries. A few isles into the store, it happened – I was convicted. The Lord softened my heart and I realized that I had just ignored the answer to my prayer for the beggars a couple of weeks ago. I finally realized that the person who is supposed to act and love these people is me.

When I left the store, I intentionally walked right by the beggar woman, but instead of walking away, I stopped and handed her some of the groceries I had purchased. I didn’t speak her language so I could not tell her about Christ’s love for her, but I prayed that she saw Jesus’ love through me.

After that experience, I wish I could tell you that I know how to help every beggar, but I don’t. To be honest, I am still overwhelmed with knowing where to start to help this situation. But what I learned and am attempting to now live out is to be obedient and to listen to the Holy Spirit. I believe the Holy Spirit compelled me to help the woman I saw that day at the grocery store. My prayer now is that I am sensitive to His leading so that I know how to take action when He lays it on my heart to help a beggar or another person I pass by.

By Annie Rosner*, a Hands-On student serving in South Asia for the 2009 spring semester

A Valuable Lesson Learned

Walking down the streets of South Asia, taking in the bustling crowd, with people left and right of me wanting me to buy their products, I gazed up and saw a familiar symbol on a building. As I looked closer, a cross came into view and beneath it a beautiful cathedral. I hadn’t seen one up close here yet, so I made my way through the vendors to get to it.

As I approached, I wasn’t prepared for what was going on. Statues of Mary and other saints were set up throughout the complex. People had flowers and candles that they placed by the statues. They bowed down to the marble and prayed to it. In the courtyard of the cathedral, people were selling these flowers and other items to give as an offering to “God.”

What I wasn’t prepared for was blatant idol worship in a Christian church. If there hadn’t been a cross on top of the building and some Christian writings, I would have thought it was a Hindu temple. I imagine that they just bring their different backgrounds into Christianity. This is how they know to worship. The vendors inside the gates reminded me of when Jesus came into the temple courts and was so angry with all of the selling and cheating going on there, how he just came in and overturned the tables. What would he do if he saw people bowing down to a statue of his mother Mary and him? I imagine Him saying, “Those things were made by human hands. I came to earth for you to have a personal relationship with me, not with an idol.”

It got me thinking. Even though they outwardly worship idols, what is the difference between that and what I do? Every day I give into my own selfish wants and desires. I covet what other people have. I become overly consumed with things. I myself worship all sorts of idols, just in secret. How can I judge and condemn something that I do in myself?

It’s amazing what you can learn here. The Bible becomes real. The things that happened to the New Testament churches are occurring here. I can choose to learn from it, or I can pretend that it doesn’t apply to my own life. Although I wasn’t prepared for what I saw that day, I also wasn’t prepared for God to reveal that we all are guilty of this sin.

Written by Nicola Broden*, a Hands-On student serving in South Asia for the 2009 spring semester

Emma Zondervan* says yes: “When God speaks to you, He speaks to your heart. He doesn’t speak to your ears,” said the Huntsville, Texas, native, who is hearing. “Your deafness does not prevent you from going to heaven.

Zondervan was among 60 new missionaries appointed by the International Mission Board Sept. 16 at First Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Fla. The appointees are being sent to four continents — 35 to Asia, 12 to Europe, 12 to Africa and one to the Americas, bringing the total number of Southern Baptist missionaries to 5,562.

Read the rest of this entry »

By Rochelle Hullett*

“Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:11-13, NASB).

FIRST-PERSON: RICHMOND, Va.–Perspective – Webster’s New World College Dictionary defines it as “a specific point of view in understanding or judging things or events, especially one that shows them in their true relations to one another.” Read the rest of this entry »

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–Several days after a Muslim mob in Pakistan killed eight Christians over rumors that a Koran — Islam’s holy book — was desecrated, that country’s prime minister has pledged to review laws he says are “detrimental to religious harmony.” Yousuf Raza Gilani’s Aug. 6 announcement raises the prospect of changes in Pakistan’s controversial “blasphemy” laws, which can impose penalties as serious as death for perceived insults to Islam, the Prophet Muhammad or the Koran. Read the rest of this entry »

South Asia—what an amazing place! Where to begin?

I am here teaching music to students at a Christian school. Besides teaching, I am taking lessons while I am here. I was given the choice to take singing, dance or instrumental. I thought since I would be singing all day at the school, I should do something different. So I chose to dance.

I have had the greatest privilege of getting to better understand the Hindu culture first hand through a classical dance called Bharatanatyam. This is nothing like American dancing. I used to dance in the States, so I thought, “Okay, this wont be so bad, right?” Wrong! It is extremely challenging. But what they do is remarkable.

This is a unique way of story telling. The Hindu culture has a lot of stories about all their gods, so they dance to it. In this particular form of dance, they have a live singer, a few typical Indian instruments, and a dancer in the middle. She will act out the story as it is being told to the audience. I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I started! But once I figured out what it really is that they do, I was so excited because I could tell a story about Jesus in a way that all these Hindus would love and understand!

What I do is tell my teacher a story from the Bible, then we find traditional music that will go along with the story. She plays it and teaches me a dance from the steps that I have previously learned. I am excited to learn my first story here soon. At the end of my term here, I will have a “show” and have lots of my dance teacher’s friends and students come watch me do this dance. All of them will get to hear a story about Jesus.

This has been a life-changing experience—and one amazing work out. I hope that other believers will join with me and dance to share the Gospel with these people!

*Written by a Hands-On student serving in South Asia for the 2009 fall semester.

Journals from theEdge: By Charis Althouser*

Ama: Tibetan, noun: grandmother or very old woman, usually around 70-plus years old.
After a particularly long day on the trail, Ivy* and I strolled, or rather hobbled, into town just as the sun was setting. The house we would be staying in that night was one of a small collection of homes. At most, there were 10. A sweet old woman welcomed us when she arrived, which was about half an hour after we did. She found out we had cameras and excitedly communicated to us by part gesture, part Tibetan, part Nepali that she wanted her picture taken. We gladly obliged and started to get our cameras ready. Then to our surprise, she ran off to the bedroom to get ready. When she emerged, she was decked out in traditional Tibetan dress and had brought two different hats for her photo shoot! She was adorable to photograph, even while Ivy and I were wishing the lighting were better. I think she was more excited than we were about the whole process, but she seemed a little disappointed that the pictures didn’t instantly pop out of the camera. Sorry, they’ll have to wait for next year.

A long evening around the woodstove later, we all decided to hit the hay for the night. Our national partner and porter were going to sleep in the common/kitchen/dining/living room. Tibetans really get their money’s worth out of the word multipurpose. Ama had graciously offered Ivy and me her storage room to sleep in. Her initial offer included her bed (a three-foot wide wooden platform with a throw rug basically), which we firmly declined, repeatedly. I have never met more persistent women than Tibetan women. With the smoke from the evening’s fire hanging around our heads, we tried to maneuver the multiple carpets she had brought to us, with our thin foam mattresses and our sleeping bags, onto floor space not intended for three people. Finally everything and everyone got settled.

Or so I thought.

A familiar sound starts catching my attention no more than two minutes later. It’s a sound I’m very familiar with, and if you’ve ever lived in Asia, you know it. It’s a sound that you start to tune out because (1) you hear it so often and (2) it’s grotesque, so you don’t really want to intently listen. It’s the sound of someone clearing his or her throat to expel whatever is lodged there. Just as my brain started to register what I was hearing, I was thinking – I believe out loud at the time, out of sheer panic – “Noooooo! Ama remembers that I’m down here, right?!”

Just as I was processing this thought, that dreadful sound crescendoed and culminated in a wad of spit landing on my sleeping bag six inches from my face. Ama hocked a loogie on me! No, she indeed did not remember that I was down there. So then I begin to somewhat recover from the trauma. Life will go on, even with this wad of foreign spit on my nice, down sleeping bag. While nursing deep hopes that there won’t be a repeat incident, I start to settle down. And she does too. The night is looking better.

Or so I thought.

This is starting to feel like one of those horror stories you tell around the campfire. Don’t worry. It only gets worse.

I start to think over the day – how long, how trying, how exhausting it has been. I think about tomorrow, how it’s already 9:30 p.m. – so early I know, but so late for the mountains! I think about how glad I am to be in bed finally because I have to get up at 5 the next morning to start trekking again. Tomorrow we’ll be crossing the pass, so it’ll be even harder … and … my thoughts are starting to come slowly because I’m starting to drift to sleep….

Or so I thought.

Into my wonderfully sleepy state of being begin to drift sounds. Little sounds. Movement. Pitter-pattering. Sounds that sound like mice. Those sounds quickly emerged in three-dimension as said rodents moments later. After initial rounds of shivering with disgust and squealing and burying myself in my sleeping bag, I began to realize that regardless of the changes in my reactions, those creatures were not changing their locale for the night. I even tried to mummify myself in my bag by pulling the drawstring tight and completely hiding myself inside, including my head. It didn’t work. I had two options: suffocate or brave the mice outside. Unfortunately, I had to opt for the latter, since suicide isn’t exactly smiled upon even when facing a terror as great as those innumerable beady eyes and gnawing teeth in the dark.

They seemed to be staying up on the shelves overhead, so that must be where the open food source was. So long as they stayed up there all night, I should be able to get some sleep.

But they didn’t.

All night long they kept creeping closer and closer and closer. Their footpath of choice was the span of mattress directly behind our heads. Occasionally they chose to run the ceiling beams for a little extra diversion. And then they would fight. And gnaw. And squeal. And run. And then for fun, they’d repeat the whole cycle again. The only variation was the one daredevil rat that ran into the side of Ivy’s sleeping bag. This continued all night long! Trust me, I kept checking my watch. By intervals I seethed with anger, writhed with restlessness, cried in fear or exhaustion, complained to Ivy, and prayed in desperation … but I didn’t sleep. Based on my observance of the passing hours, the only time I missed was between 3:15 and 4 a.m. Approximately. Not that I was wishing for dawn or anything!

–30–

*Name changed for security reasons.

Charis Althouser is a Journeyman serving on theEdge in South Asia.

Journals from theEdge: By Arden Robertson*
 
The tolerance and inclusive nature of Hinduism have always been incomprehensible to me, but since moving to South Asia, it makes me feel slightly schizophrenic. My simple, finite mind cannot understand how all roads could possibly lead to the same place, how all gods could possibly be one; but clearly I don’t have to look far to see that these thoughts and beliefs have caught on.

Since my team doesn’t technically work with Hindus, I had reasoned away why God has not broken my heart for these people. I had cut my feelings off from learning too much for fear of being completely overwhelmed – until now.

I did not know what to expect as my teammate and I left the house on Diwali to celebrate the biggest Hindu festival yet. The city’s excitement between shopping and traffic had overthrown any Christmas hustle and bustle I had ever seen. People were everywhere in the days leading up to this holiday. My national friends compare their holiday to Christmas. It’s the festival of lights and everyone gives gifts, wears new clothes, eats lots of foods and sweets, visits the homes of family and close friends, and shoots off crackers (fireworks) until all hours of the night. It is one big party!

According to tradition, their gods will notice the house with the most light, whether that’s from crackers or candles. There aren’t too many rules with Hinduism though, so the more questions I ask, the more I leave confused.

We went to our favorite Muslim family’s house – yes, they celebrate Diwali even though they aren’t Hindu – and then to visit a Hindu family that we met through them. I experienced my first Hindu prayer and worship in a national’s home, drank chai (hot milk tea) three times in three hours, watched fireworks set off inside of a house, ate enough sweets that I thought I was going to hurl, and silently sang ‘Shine Jesus Shine, fill this land with the Father’s glory….’ I also lit candles to decorate a house, prayed, shared my story, and headed home exhausted.

More important than what happened externally that night was what God began doing in my heart and mind.

All night, I listened to what sounded like a war zone outside. The celebration with all the fireworks had gone on for hours upon hours without ceasing. The indescribable loud noises enabled me to imagine what it would be like to be in the midst of a war as a soldier. I was vividly reminded that night of the war that rages in the spiritual realms. The night – with all its hopelessness and desolation, its joy and laughter, its paradoxical and inconsistent contradictions juxtaposed with the Truth we presented – was a striking portrait of the war we in Christ face daily.

With all the literal noise and racket and with all the smoke, pollution and haze, I could not even see the house in front of me. Yet, there was light; so many houses were decorated with small candles. Even though they were clearly not celebrating the true Light, from a distance looking down the streets, it was the small candles shining one at a time that allowed me to see.

I realized that it is also my candle, my light, His Light, that God will use as He wishes right here, right now, in this place, for this time.

As I looked off into the darkness from my balcony, I remembered a quote from one of my favorite movies, “The gunfire around us makes it hard to hear, but the human voice is different from other sounds. It can be heard over noises that bury everything else, even when it’s not shouting, even if it’s just a whisper. Even the lowest whisper can be heard over armies – when it’s telling the truth.”

May my life be a whisper as it tells the Truth.

–30—

*Name changed for security reasons.

Arden Robertson is a Journeyman serving on theEdge in South Asia.